ANDREA GALABINSKI Austin Wohlert and Marcella Brown are two of the featured performers in the academy’s upcoming show “Thoroughly Modern Millie Junior.”

It’s an exciting time for the student performers from the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts. They will be performing their spring musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie Junior” at both the school and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.

“We were in a meeting with Principal Dr. Douglas Santini, who said, ‘How do we go about doing this show at Broadway Palm?'” said director and drama department teacher Alyson Holton.

She called the theater and was able to meet with the officials, trying to explain what they hoped to do.

“We thought being at Broadway Palm would be another different experience, both for the students performing and for parents and family to come and see it,” she said.

Holton said the idea was well received.

“Broadway Palm officials were very generous, stating they supported the arts and asked what they could do to help the students to make this an achievable goal,” she said.

Holton said she came back to her arts team and talked about the challenges of transporting the show from one place to the other.

“We have a great arts team,” she said, and they were all in for the venture.

The result is a special performance to be held at the Broadway Palm.

“We were able to get this full dinner service, a buffet and a show, for only $20 an adult and $12 for a student. Normally their prices are higher,” she said.

Those involved with the production will only have a rehearsal at the Broadway Palm the day of the show, another challenge for the students, but something that will prepare them for business as usual in the real performing world.

“It’s a very realistic situation for the kids if they do professional theater in the future,” said Holton.

She talked about common Broadway rehearsals that may be held in another area, where performers rehearse in tiny theaters and then only have a few hours to get acclimated to their real performance stage.

“They will have the school performance under their belt before we go to Broadway Palm,” she said.

She added that he kids are very excited about performing on a professional stage.

They actually started working on the production last fall, and had auditions this February.

“We started doing rehearsals the beginning of March,” she said.

The show itself is challenging.

“It’s probably the hardest show in the Junior Series,” Holton said. “Junior” is an operative word here, as it is a special adaptation on the musical specifically written for kids.

“The music is more challenging, they’re tap dancing numbers,” she said. “It’s a very ’42nd Street’ kind of vibe. You have the movement of the flapper, and jazz. It’s a very fun, upbeat production.”

There are many memorable song numbers in the show.

They have students from third to eight grade performing. Auditions included the whole school, and there are 88 performers in the production. It’s a very full stage, with lots of costumes, she added.

“We’re definitely having a good time and our costume mistress is working like crazy,” she said.

Marcia Friedman is the costume mistress, who teaches family consumer sciences but also has an advanced costuming class. The students actually create and sew the costuming.

Other key teaches involved are Linda Sammons, middle school dance teacher and vocal instructor and Director Debbie Trout. She was given the challenging task of teaching the vocals to all of the students.

Another dance instructor that is key is Annemarie Morin, who is the elementary dance instructor. Sue Sommers from the computer/business instruction end is handling programs and invitations. Theresa West-Taylo, from the art department, has her stage craft class making the props and more.

The room at Broadway Palm holds 300-plus, and the academy stage holds about 500. “

“We’re hoping for capacity,” said Holton.

The two stages are different sizes, with different components.

“They will really have to learn how to improvise, which we’ve learned in class, but it is really something you do in life,” she said. “They are learning life lessons.

One of our students is actually performing at Broadway Palm in two of their shows,” she said.

Austin Wohlert is currently in the Broadway Palm productions of both “Peter Pan” and “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” Both roles are central characters.

“He’s one of our honor students in class, and he’s doing all of these things,” she said. “He has a great attitude, and is an example of the type of student we have here at the academy.”

It’s not only a cross-theater experience, but a cross-school experience as well. They actually worked with North Fort Myers High School, who did the production last year, specifically with drama teacher Michele Whitener.

“It is truly good to have this relationship,” said Holton.

“It’s a fantastic production,” said Santini. “We’re one of the first schools in the country to do this version. Going to Broadway Palm gives the students extra experience rather than just doing it here so it’s very special this year. I know it’s going to be a great production at both places and the kids are more excited this year because of that.”

Ticket sales are on now through the school for both performances, which begin at 7 p.m.. The cost of the May 15 school show is $5 for an adult or child. Broadway Palm tickets are $20 for adults and $12 children 12 and under. That show includes dinner with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. with dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

For information or tickets, call 997-2131.